Hopes fade for five missing Swanland crew as one body found in Irish Sea

The body of one of the missing Swanland crew has been found in the Irish Sea, and rescuers say that chances of finding the other five alive are slim. Two others were rescued alive overnight by a rescue helicopter that featured Prince William among its crew.

The Swanland sank 10 miles west of the Llyn peninsula in Wales, sending out a distress signal at around 2am. The crew had survival vests but with low temperatures they would not ordinarily be expected to last more than six hours in the water. Sixteen hours later, their chances of survival are said to be very slim.

It’s believed that the hull of the boat broke, although that has not been confirmed. The vessel sank quickly and it’s not clear whether all the crew were able to get out before it went under.